Yesterday I had the pleasure of a metaphorical slap in the face, bringing me to a shocking reality of the excuses and BS, basic stories of course, I have built in to my life (emotional, spiritual, bahviors). A pleasure, indeed.
I was coaching a client with a very big and attainable dream. I am sure you have heard of the Jim Collins term, the BHAG (Big, Harry, Audacious Goal); a goal so large I gasp, laugh or squirm at the thought? She described her BHAG to me so clearly even I could taste it, followed by the litany of reasons and small thinking as to why it is not happening. Sound familiar?? This is when the wind up for my own slap started.
My client was telling me how she had created the facade that she was pursuing the BHAG, but honestly was feeling safe and comfortable where she was. Outsiders would stand in awe at what she had already created and how forward thinking she was. She was on her way, right? No, actually. What she had created was a treadmill of activity (AKA smoke screen) to fool even herself that she was in hot pursuit.
When we poked at the hypocrisy (her words) she was feeling in the smoke screen, we clearly saw through to the next step. Ironically the one step she was pressing all her clients to act on but was stepping around it herself. SMACK! That was the landing point of my own slap. Oh how I love that my clients are a window for my life 
Somewhere along the line in my visioning I lost track of my emotional connection to my BHAG and my unshakable belief in it coming to pass. Experiences and stories I had made up over the last 4 years to dampen my confidence and not just lower the bar, but settle for mediocrity. My metaphorical slap comes at a perfect time when my husband, Jeff, and I are creating a new vision board of our BHAGs. Every time I print a photo and glue it on our board I feel an emotional stirring and connection to where I am going.
Yesterday I was offered the opportunity of a fantastic speaking/coaching gig, something I love and want more of on a much larger scale. A three-hour workshop for the MIT Entrepreneurial Masters Program Graduating class! My niche market on a huge scale!! I know this is in line with my BHAG because of my reaction - I couldn’t stop laughing the rest of the afternoon.
What gets in my way of accomplishing my BHAG is not my fear of failure, but actually my fear of success. Similar to my client, that BHAG success is not safe or comfortable! I need to believe in what is possible for myself and reconnect to that vision daily. Then, surround myself with supporters that constantly remind me of my infinite possibility. When I shared my news with my closest peeps, they were not shocked at all.
Do you have a BHAG? What BS (Basic Stories, of course) are you telling yourself and others about why it is not happening? Or are you a master at pretending? Get over yourself and get on it! Mediocrity is highly over-rated.